Page 140 - DLIS002_KNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATION CLASSIFICATION AND CATALOGUING THEORY

Unit 7: Library Classification Canons and Principles

Specific classification schemes for particular subjects or types of materials. Examples include Notes
Icon class, British Catalogue of Music Classification, and Dickinson classification, or the
NLM Classification for medicine.
National schemes specially created for certain countries. An example is the Swedish library
classification system, SAB (Sveriges Allmänna Biblioteksförening).
In terms of functionality, classification systems are often described as:

Enumerative: Subject headings are listed alphabetically, with numbers assigned to each
heading in alphabetical order.

Hierarchical: Subjects are divided hierarchically, from most general to most specific.
Faceted or analytico-synthetic: Subjects are divided into mutually exclusive orthogonal
facets.

There are few completely enumerative systems or faceted systems; most systems are a blend but
favouring one type or the other.

Did u know? The most common classification systems, LCC and DDC, are essentially
enumerative, though with some hierarchical and faceted elements (more so for DDC),
especially at the broadest and most general level.

7.3.1 Universal Classification Systems Used in the English-speaking
World

Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)
Library of Congress Classification (LCC)

Colon classification (CC)
The above systems are the most common in the English-speaking world.
BISAC Subject Headings: The publishing industry standard for classification that is being
adopted by some libraries.

Harvard-Yenching Classification: An English classification system for Chinese language
materials.

7.3.2 Universal Classification Systems that Rely on Synthesis (Faceted
Systems)

Bliss bibliographic classification

Colon classification
Cutter Expansive Classification
Universal Decimal Classification
Newer classification systems tend to use the principle of synthesis (combining codes from
different lists to represent the different attributes of a work) heavily, which is comparatively
lacking in LC or DDC.

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 135